Masteroffoxhounds looks for second U.S. win in San Marcos

In what appears to be a wide-open affair at 1 1/4 miles on turf, recent arrival Masteroffoxhounds and well-accomplished California-bred Acclimate figure prominently among six older horses in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita.

Originally scheduled to be run this past Saturday, Jan. 30, the San Marcos was moved to this Saturday to avoid heavy rains and will be contested for the 69th time.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Masteroffoxhounds, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by War Front, began his career at age 2 in Ireland and managed one win from six starts on the Emerald Isle before making his U.S. debut on Nov. 7. A non-threatening seventh in a one-mile turf allowance, Masteroffoxhounds came back to win going away by 4 1/4 lengths in a 1 3/8-mile turf allowance on Nov. 28.

With Joel Rosario signed on to ride for the first time, Masteroffoxhounds, who earned an 87 Beyer Speed figure on Nov. 28, cuts back in distance a 16th of mile and looks like a “now” commodity that’s capable of taking his first graded stakes for Rockingham Ranch.

In his only start last year, Acclimate was fourth, beaten two lengths going 1 1/2 miles on turf in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) on Nov. 27 at Del Mar. Subsequently favored at 9-5 versus state-breds in the Cal Cup Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles here on Jan. 16, Acclimate flattened out late to finish third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. A veteran who does his best running on the lead at marathon distances on turf, Acclimate will be making his third start off a lengthy layoff and rates a solid chance with Tyler Baze back aboard.

Owned by the Ellwood Johnston Family Trust, Timmy Time Racing and Ken Tevelde, Acclimate was bred in part by the Johnston’s Old English Rancho. A Grade 2 winner on grass, Acclimate, a 7-year-old gelding by Acclamation, out of the Boundary mare Knows No Bounds, is 20: 6-2-3 with earnings of $399,872.

Although never a threat going 1 1/8 miles on turf in the San Gabriel Stakes (G2) on Jan. 2, Cleopatra’s Strike, who was claimed for $62,500 on Nov. 13, rallied to be second in last year’s San Marcos and rates an upset chance in his second start for Bob Hess Jr. as leading rider Juan Hernandez takes over for the first time.